According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 90 Americans lose their lives each day due to traffic accidents. Motor vehicle collisions occur for diverse reasons, from drug and alcohol use to speeding and excessive drowsiness. However, some of these wrecks are the result of health conditions that interfere with a driver’s ability to drive safe and it is vital for all drivers to realize the risks.
There are all sorts of health conditions that can lead to a car collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that drivers can black out and cause a traffic accident due to severe dehydration or a medical condition such as diabetes. Or, a driver may suffer a heart attack while behind the wheel or have a seizure as a result of epilepsy. There are many other potential hazards related to health conditions that can interfere with a driver’s ability to safely control his or her vehicle, such as a stroke or medication that is required and interferes with driving.
When it comes to auto accidents brought on by health conditions, drivers between the ages of 65 and 74 have a higher incidence rate in comparison to drivers from other age groups. However, drivers of all ages may suffer a health condition while behind the wheel and cause an accident. For victims of these accidents, going over any helpful resources that are available is imperative. Sometimes, people cause an accident due to a medical condition they did not see coming, while others should have stayed off of the road.